Xarelto, like other anticoagulants, carries the risk of internal bleeding as one of its potential side effects. However, Xarelto internal bleeding events cannot be controlled or reversed once they begin, making the drug far more dangerous than traditional blood-thinners like warfarin. If internal bleeding cannot be stopped or controlled, it can increase the risk of stroke.

Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one was injured by Xarelto side effects, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against the manufacturer of Xarelto and we can help.

How Can a Stroke be Treated?

Specific treatment for a stroke will be based on the patient’s age, overall health, medical history, and severity of the stroke. Although there is currently no cure for a stroke, recent medical advances and surgical treatments can give stroke victims hope for optimal recovery.

Emergency Treatments

Treatment is most effective when it is started immediately following the initial onset of symptoms. Emergency treatment options include:

Prescription medications called clot-busters can be used to dissolve blood clots that cause an ischemic stroke. These drugs are designed to reduce the damage to brain cells caused by a stroke. In order to be effective, clot-busters must be administered within a few hours of onset of symptoms.

Drugs and therapy to control swelling in the brain. Specialized intravenous (IV) fluids can be used to reduce or control brain swelling, especially after a hemorrhagic stroke.

Neuroprotective agents can help protect the brain from damage caused by lack of oxygen (ischemia).

Life support measures include treatment with ventilators, IV drugs, nutritional supplements and blood pressure control.

Surgical Treatment

Carotid endarterectomy – Procedure used to remove plaque and clots from the carotid arteries in the neck. These arteries supply the brain with oxygenated (red) blood from the heart. Endarterectomy may also help prevent a stroke from occurring.

Carotid stenting – A metal coil called a stent is inserted into the carotid artery and passed through the femoral artery to the area of blockage caused by the stroke.

Craniotomy – Type of brain surgery performed to remove blood clots or repair bleeding in the brain.

Surgery to repair aneurysms & arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) – An aneurysm is a weakened area on an artery wall that can rupture and cause bleeding in the brain. An AVM is a congenital disorder that consists of a tangled web of arteries and veins. This condition also increases the risk of rupturing and bleeding in the brain. Surgery to correct aneurysms can help prevent a stroke from occurring. This surgery involves placing clips on the aneurysm to prevent it from rupturing, or small coils curled up inside the aneurysm. The coils are inserted into the aneurysm through a catheter, which is moved through the arteries from a puncture site, usually through an artery in the groin. An AVM can be treated with special glues, which clot off blood vessels in the malformation.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure – The foramen ovale is an opening in the wall between the 2 upper chambers of a baby’s heart before birth. It provides oxygenated (red) blood to the fetus from the mother’s placenta. The foramen ovale normally closes after the baby is born. If it fails to close, blood flows from the right atrium directly to the left atrium, then out to the rest of the body. If this blood has any clots or air bubbles in it, they can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. PFO closure can be performed through a percutaneous (through the skin) approach. Whether or not a PFO should be closed is a controversial issue, and recent studies are still trying to determine when and under what circumstances this should be done.

Do I Have a Xarelto Stroke Lawsuit?

The Pharmaceutical Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Xarelto Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new stroke cases in all 50 states.

Free Confidential Case Evaluation: If you or a loved one was injured by Xarelto side effects, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a class action suit and our lawyers can help.